An Anthony Stokes header in the fourth minute raised expectations of a coronation by half-time.

It
didn’t happen. But, as so often in a one-sided procession towards a
third successive flag for Neil Lennon’s side, a foot to the accelerator
was followed by the discovery of another gear.

For 17-year-old Liam Henderson, the occasion was one he will remember for some time.

A
substitute for right-back Adam Matthews at half-time, the young
midfielder had been on the pitch just four minutes when he thumped the
second goal into the back of the net.

It was his first senior goal in green and white. It is unlikely to be his last.

Norwegian
Stefan Johansen —emerging as an increasingly influential player —
settled any lingering element of doubt with the third goal in 53
minutes.

Thistle pulled one
back through substitute Christie Elliott, but two goals in injury time —
a second for Stokes and a 27th of the season for Kris Commons —
elevated the celebrations of the away support behind the goal.

Congrats: Leigh Griffiths (back) grabs Celtic youngster Liam Henderson after scoring his first goal for the club

Champion: Neil Lennon celebrates on the touchline as he watches his side stroll to another title

Group hug: Anthony Stokes (2nd right) is hailed by his Celtic team-mates after his wonder strike

Tussle: Celtic ace Kris Commons (right) holds off Lee Mair on the way to Celtic's rout

It
won’t be Partick Thistle. At 3-0 down, the home team created their best
chances, finally testing Fraser Forster. Substitute Elliott scored his
goal with five minutes left. That they played their best stuff with the
game already gone is the story of their season.

Only two points separate Alan Archibald’s side from St Mirren, the eleventh-placed team currently occupying the play-off place.

Not
until the final moments did they look outclassed, however, even ending
the first half the better team. Yet the loss of such an early goal leant
an inevitability to what would follow. Emilio Izaguirre cut in to cross
the ball with his less favoured right foot towards the back post where
Stokes stood completely unmarked.

The Irishman headed the ball firmly past Paul Gallacher for 1-0.

In
the Sky studios behind the goal, the league championship trophy
glistened in the window. It seemed Celtic would make short work of
shipping it back across Glasgow before half-time.

Only three times before in this old club’s history had they won three successive titles. Expectations of a fourth took a little longer to be secured than anticipated.

At
Kilmarnock two years ago, Lennon’s side scored early and produced a
rampant, confident, flowing performance. They initially failed to repeat
the trick here.

After opening the scoring they gave the impression of a team who thought the job was done. Most people did.

The
expectation was that Archibald’s team might fold, as they have done so
often at home this season. Instead they showed a spirit and endeavour
few expected. Yet they created little or nothing in the way of solid
goalscoring opportunities until the game was utterly lost.

They
succeeded, however, in sucking Celtic into a dogged midfield battle in
the first 45 minutes. Lennon’s anger when Charlie Mulgrew earned a
booking for chopping down Lyle Taylor after Efe Ambrose dithered on the
touchline said it all. Celtic, frankly, needed a bit more.

Young gun: Liam Henderson scores his first goal for Celtic to put his side one step closer to the title

Forster had precious little to do. Yet neither did Gallacher in the Thistle goal.

The home side’s efforts reminded Celtic there was still a job to be done. Still a title to win.

A change at half-time was key to finishing the job.

A
hamstring strain for Matthews forced the introduction of young
Henderson, with Ambrose moving to right-back. What a pivotal moment that
proved for the teenager, his thumping finish four minutes into the
second half settling any uncertainty.

A
Johansen cross from the left touchline was dummied by Commons, then
Leigh Griffiths, and ran through for the young midfielder to thud the
ball firmly into the bottom corner for his first Celtic goal.

Within
minutes it was 3-0. The instigator of the second goal, Johansen, was
the scorer of the third, surging into the 18-yard box and thrashing a
low, left-foot shot past Gallacher.

There was no scope for doubt. No reason to delay the inevitable. After 53 minutes, Celtic were the champions and there was no more Thistle could do to resist.

Typically, they played their best stuff in the minutes after the game was hopelessly lost.

Gary
Fraser’s 25-yard shot forced Forster into a sprawling save at his
left-hand post before Taylor’s point-blank header fell into the arms of
the English keeper moments later.

Stephen O’Donnell then cut inside and thrashed a left-foot fizzing effort which Forster saved with his chest.

Spraying it about: Celtic goalkeeping coach larks about in the dressing room

Griffiths
and Stokes had ‘goals’ chalked off by a linesman’s flag before Thistle
sub Ellliott rattled home a fine strike from a long Aaron
Taylor-Sinclair pass with five minutes to play. It was a mere exercise
in tokenism.

Celtic were not
done yet. Stokes would have his second in injury time, rattling a
rising shot into the top postage-stamp corner from 12 yards.

Commons
even had time to add a fifth, slamming the ball through Gallacher’s
legs after substitute Georgios Samaras broke clear and teed him up.

If the margin of the scoreline was mildly flattering, the same can hardly be said of a third successive title.